However, your life would be very different if you lived in ancient Rome. If you were an average Roman citizen, you wouldn’t be able to read or write. You’d eat mostly porridge, olives and lentils. You wouldn’t travel more than 50 miles from home in your lifetime--a span of only about 35 years.

Despite those facts, you, like all Romans, would still want to keep your teeth shiny and healthy. Here’s how you’d do it:

Our friends, the industrious naked mole rats, are scrupulous about their dental routine. That's because their continuously growing incisors need to be frequently filed down with something hard like concrete blocks.

We humans turn to toothbrushes and floss for our oral hygiene needs. And since it's spring, how about taking a few minutes to spring clean and refresh your smile?

Here's a checklist to get you started.

1. Out with the old, in with the new. When was the last time you replaced your toothbrush? It’s important to replace old toothbrush heads or toothbrushes every three to four months. As bristles wear, they become less effective at reaching all the little nooks and crannies that need to be cleaned. Most toothbrushes have an indicator that starts to fade on the bristles when it’s time to replace. If not, set up an alert on your phone or write it on the calendar so you’ll remember when to replace the old toothbrush.